Ex-Bardstown Bourbon Company Executive Sues Company, Alleging ‘Illegal, Unethical, Discriminatory’ Conduct

(Photo: Bardstown Bourbon Company)

A former senior executive at Bardstown Bourbon Company has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the company, alleging gender discrimination, retaliation and workplace misconduct, the Lexington Herald Leader reported Friday.

The lawsuit, filed Friday, names Bardstown Bourbon Company, parent company Lofted Spirits, Lofted CEO Mark Erwin, Bardstown Bourbon Company President Peter Marino, Pritzker Private Capital and operating partner Christian Brickman as defendants.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. and Lofted Spirits operate under Pritzker Private Capital, which is owned by Anthony N. Pritzker, the brother of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The company denied the claims in a statement: “We believe these claims are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves.”

Allegations of Discrimination and Retaliation

Sylvia E. Sanders, 62, served as vice president of human resources at Bardstown Bourbon Company for five years. She oversaw HR operations for the company and its affiliates, including Green River Distilling in Owensboro.

In her complaint, Sanders said she was fired in May 2024 after reporting what she described as “illegal, unethical, discriminatory and improper conduct.”

The lawsuit alleges a hostile work environment for female employees and others. Sanders claims she raised concerns about “widespread discriminatory animus and slurs; improper protected classification jokes and commentary; blatant racism, ageism and —ist/gender bias; illegal identity-based decision-making; employees arriving, or becoming, while working, under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and not being properly disciplined or addressed by supervisors; falsification of mandatory occupational health, and incident-related documentation and regulatory mandated reporting; theft of company product; a hit-and-run alcohol-related accident; omission of human resources altogether from mandatory reporting and/or engagement under BBC and Pritzker Policies and Procedures; and employees, including under-aged employees, being served the corporate group’s alcohol during work hours including encouraging under-age drinking.”

According to the complaint, Sanders wrote a memo to Erwin detailing the incidents and later escalated her concerns to Christian Brickman at Pritzker Private Capital. Days later, she says she was escorted from company property.

“This case is about corporate accountability at the highest levels,” Sanders’ attorney, James M. Morris, said in a statement, according to the Herald Leader. “Our client was the vice president of human resources — the person charged with protecting employees and ensuring legal compliance. When she reported systemic discrimination, retaliation, and potential regulatory violations, she was silenced and removed. No company — regardless of private equity ownership or political connections — is above Kentucky law.”

Erwin became CEO and president of Bardstown Bourbon Company in September 2019. Marino later assumed the role of president of BBC while Erwin moved to CEO of Lofted Spirits.

Pritzker Private Capital acquired the company in March 2022, and Bardstown Bourbon Co. quickly took advantage of the increased funding, announcing a $29 million expansion within weeks and acquiring Green River within months.

Bardstown Bourbon has expanded its contract distilling and branded whiskey business in recent years, even as the broader spirits market has slowed.

What the Lawsuit Seeks

Sanders is seeking compensatory damages, lost wages, lost equity interest, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and a jury trial.

The case will now move forward in Nelson County court.